Our medical systems are broken. Doctors are capable of extraordinary (and expensive) treatments, but they are losing their core focus: actually treating people. Doctor and writer Atul Gawande suggests we take a step back and look at new ways to do medicine -- with fewer cowboys and more pit crews. Talk by Atul Gawande. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Marie Antoinette became a symbol for the evils of excess— but was she a wasteful queen or a convenient scapegoat? You decide. -- She was the Queen of France, notorious for living in opulence while peasants starved and became a symbol of everything wrong with monarchy. But was Marie Antionette a heartless, wasteful queen, or a convenient scapegoat in turbulent times? Carolyn Harris puts this controversial figure on trial in History vs. Marie Antoinette. Lesson by Carolyn Harris, directed by Brett...
TED Fellow Lucy McRae is a body architect -- she imagines ways to merge biology and technology in our own bodies. In this visually stunning talk, she shows her work, from clothes that recreate the body's insides for a music video with pop-star Robyn, to a pill that, when swallowed, lets you sweat perfume. Talk by Lucy McRae. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Explore how solar units can help you save money on energy costs, and the most common challenges of switching to solar power. -- Today in many countries solar is the cheapest form of energy to produce. Millions of homes are equipped with rooftop solar, with most units paying for themselves in their first seven to 12 years and then generating further savings. So, how much money can you save by switching to solar? Shannon Odell shares how solar units could help pave the way for a cleaner and more r...
As we expect more from technology, do we expect less from each other? Sherry Turkle studies how our devices and online personas are redefining human connection and communication -- and asks us to think deeply about the new kinds of connection we want to have. Talk by Sherry Turkle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dig into the history of the Rwandan Genocide of 1994, during which over one-tenth of the country’s population was killed. -- For one hundred days in 1994, the African country of Rwanda suffered a horrific campaign of mass murder. Neighbor turned against neighbor as violence engulfed the region, resulting in the deaths of over one-tenth of the country’s population. How did this happen? And why didn't international organizations intervene? Susanne Buckley-Zistel digs into the history of the Rwanda...
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/mysteries-of-vernacular-miniature-jessica-oreck Miniature's root may be Latin, but its meaning is rooted in books, where red pigment was used to denote chapter breaks. Jessica Oreck explains how we got from there to the meaning of miniature today: something smaller than others of its class. Lesson and animation by Jessica Oreck. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Explore what happened after the Big Bang and how the battle between gravity and pressure shaped the structure of our universe. -- It’s time for the biggest battle in the Universe: the Big Bang. In one corner is gravity— the force that brings all matter together. In the other is pressure— the force that can push matter away. Over the next several hundred thousand years, these two contenders will be wrestling for the fate of the Universe. But what are these powers fighting over? Fabio Pacucci digs...
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-does-an-atom-smashing-particle-accelerator-work-don-lincoln An atom smasher, or particle accelerator, collides atomic nuclei together at extremely cold temperatures, very low air pressure, and hyperbolically fast speeds. Don Lincoln explains how scientists harness the power of both electric and magnetic fields to smash atoms, eventually leading to major discoveries about the matter in our universe. Lesson by Don Lincoln, animation by Sputnik Animat...
Dive into the ocean’s depths to see how the gigantic megalodon ruled the seas, and find out what caused its extinction. — 20 million years ago, the ocean housed a creature so colossal that its stomach could reach volumes of almost 10,000 liters— big enough to fit an entire orca. It was the megalodon, the biggest shark to ever live. So, what was it like when megalodon ruled the seas? And what brought this formidable predator to extinction? Jack Cooper and Catalina Pimiento investigate. Lesson by ...
To find the path to long life and health, Dan Buettner and team study the world's "Blue Zones," communities whose elders live with vim and vigor to record-setting age. In his talk, he shares the 9 common diet and lifestyle habits that keep them spry past age 100. (Filmed at TEDxTC.) Talk by Dan Buettner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Practice more problem-solving at https://brilliant.org/TedEd — You and the professor have driven your DeLorean back to the past to fix issues with the spacetime continuum caused by your time traveling. But another DeLorean appears with older versions of you and the professor. The professors panic and explain that the universe could collapse now that you’re both in the same time and place. Can you merge the timestreams and travel home? Dan Finkel shows how. Lesson by Dan Finkel, directed by Igor ...
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-magic-of-vedic-math-gaurav-tekriwal There is more than one way to reach a correct answer in mathematics. Vedic math, an ancient Indian method, sidesteps traditional computations in a manner that provides a shortcut, while being fun to use and to learn. At TEDYouth 2012, to ooh's and aah's from the amazed crowd, Gaurav Tekriwal demonstrates the magic of Vedic math. Talk by Gaurav Tekriwal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoic...
Do nonhuman animals experience grief? Explore mourning in the animal kingdom to find out the answer to this tricky question. -- In 2018, an orca called Tahlequah gave birth. But her daughter died within an hour. Tahlequah, however, didn’t leave her body. Over the next 17 days and 1,600 kilometers, she kept it afloat atop her own. By altering her feeding and travel patterns, Tahlequah’s behavior was certainly unusual. But was she mourning— or just confused? Barbara J. King explores whether nonhum...
It's an unfortunate reality in nearly every major city—road congestion, especially during rush hours. Jonas Eliasson reveals how subtly nudging just a small percentage of drivers to stay off major roads can make traffic jams a thing of the past. (Filmed at TEDxHelvetia.) Talk by Jonas Eliasson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Explore the science of why Earth’s atmosphere is losing hydrogen, and find out what other leaks could affect life on our planet. -- A hydrogen atom is traveling high within the outermost layer of Earth’s atmosphere. This particular atom first entered the exosphere millions of years ago, but today it overcomes Earth’s gravitational pull and escapes, joining the roughly 90 tons of material that leak out of our atmosphere each day. Should we be worried about these leaks? Shannon Odell digs into our...
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-is-zeno-s-dichotomy-paradox-colm-kelleher Can you ever travel from one place to another? Ancient Greek philosopher Zeno of Elea gave a convincing argument that all motion is impossible - but where's the flaw in his logic? Colm Kelleher illustrates how to resolve Zeno's Dichotomy Paradox. Lesson by Colm Kelleher, animation by Buzzco Associates, inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Examine the empty land theory, which was created by European colonizers in South Africa to support their claims to the region. -- From the 1650s through the late 1800’s, European colonists descended on South Africa. They sought to claim the region, becoming even more aggressive after discovering the area’s abundant natural resources. To support their claims to the land, the colonizers asserted they were settling in empty land devoid of local people. Was this argument true? Anneliese Mehnert debu...
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/every-city-needs-healthy-honey-bees-noah-wilson-rich Bees have been rapidly and mysteriously disappearing from rural areas, with grave implications for agriculture. But bees seem to flourish in urban environments -- and cities need their help, too. Noah Wilson-Rich suggests that urban beekeeping might play a role in revitalizing both a city and a species. (Filmed at TEDxBoston.) Talk by Noah Wilson-Rich. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon...
Dig into the history of the elite mercenaries known as condottieri, who were soldiers for hire for Italy's rich and powerful. -- During the 14th and 15th centuries, mercenaries known as condottieri dominated Italian warfare, profiting from— and encouraging— the region’s intense political rivalries. As rulers competed for power and prestige, their disputes often played out in military conflicts, fought almost entirely by the condottieri. So who were these elite and conniving warriors? Stephanie H...
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/a-future-beyond-traffic-gridlock-bill-ford Bill Ford is a car guy -- his great-grandfather was Henry Ford, and he grew up inside the massive Ford Motor Co. So when he worries about cars' impact on the environment, and about our growing global gridlock problem, it's worth a listen. His vision for the future of mobility includes "smart roads," even smarter public transport and going green like never before. Talk by Bill Ford. Learn more about your ad cho...
Get to know 3 factors that can help you identify pseudoscience, and find out how it differs from actual science. -- Pseudoscience is a set of theories, methods, and assumptions that appear scientific, but aren’t. In the worst cases, pseudoscience practitioners encourage this confusion to exploit people. But even when it's well-intentioned, pseudoscience can still prevent people from getting the help they need. So, how can you tell what’s science and what’s pseudoscience? Siska De Baerdemaeker in...
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-i-must-speak-out-about-climate-change-james-hansen Top climate scientist James Hansen tells the story of his involvement in the science of and debate over global climate change. In doing so he outlines the overwhelming evidence that change is happening and why that makes him deeply worried about the future. Talk by James Hansen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Explore the defining features of being in a flow state, and get tips on how you can find flow in your daily life. -- Flow is more than just concentrating or paying attention; it's a unique mental state of effortless engagement. And those who more frequently experience flow report higher levels of positive emotions, creativity, and feelings of accomplishment. But what exactly is flow? And how can we find it in our daily lives? Explore steps you can take to increase your chances of finding flow. D...
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/we-need-to-talk-about-an-injustice-bryan-stevenson In an engaging and personal talk -- with cameo appearances from his grandmother and Rosa Parks -- human rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson shares some hard truths about America's justice system, starting with a massive imbalance along racial lines: a third of the country's black male population has been incarcerated at some point in their lives. These issues, which are wrapped up in America's unexamined his...
Explore the history of court jesters, from 7th century China to medieval Europe, and how they were able to speak truth to power. -- Contrary to common belief, jesters weren’t just a medieval European phenomenon but flourished in other times and cultures. The first reliably recorded jester is thought to be You Shi, of 7th century BCE China. Jesters had unique relationships to power: they could be viewed as objects of mockery or as entertainers and trusted companions. Beatrice K. Otto digs into hi...
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-earth-is-full-paul-gilding Have we used up all our resources? Have we filled up all the livable space on Earth? Paul Gilding suggests we have, and the possibility of devastating consequences, in a talk that's equal parts terrifying and, oddly, hopeful. Talk by Paul Gilding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Explore the science of why single-use and rechargeable batteries die, and find out why recycling batteries can be challenging. -- Almost all batteries, even single-use batteries, are theoretically rechargeable. That’s because the metals and other chemicals are still there in the battery. So chemically speaking, a dead battery is actually not that different from a fresh one. Then why do batteries die in the first place? And what should you do with them once they’re spent? George Zaidan digs into ...
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-quest-to-understand-consciousness-antonio-damasio Every morning we wake up and regain consciousness -- that is a marvelous fact -- but what exactly is it that we regain? Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio uses this simple question to give us a glimpse into how our brains create our sense of self. Talk by Antonio Damasio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Practice more problem-solving at https://brilliant.org/teded -- Right now, invisible signals are flying through the air all around you. Massive radio waves carry information between computers, GPS systems, cell phones, and more. And the sky is flooded with interference from routers, satellites, and, of course, people flying who haven’t put their phones on airplane mode. So, what exactly does airplane mode do? Lindsay DeMarchi explains the setting's importance. Lesson by Lindsay DeMarchi, directe...
